Lagerstroemia plant named ‘SMNLIDS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Lagerstroemia cultivar named ‘SMNLIDS’ is disclosed, characterized by intense pink flower color, and dark green with a silver sheen and bronze foliage. Plants are dwarf, compact and well-branched. The new variety is a Lagerstroemia, normally used for outdoor ornamental purposes.

Latin name of the genus and species: Lagerstroemia indica.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNLIDS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lagerstroemia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Megan Mathey, in Grand Haven, Mich. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new colors in leaves and flowers. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during July of 2013.

The seed parent is the commercial variety referred to as Lagerstroemia ‘Coral Magic’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,922. The pollen parent is unidentified. The new variety was selected in July of 2015 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2013 open pollination, in a commercial nursery in Grand Haven, Mich.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar has been performed by softwood cuttings. This was first performed at the same nursery in Grand Haven, Mich. during July of 2015, and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNLIDS’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘SMNLIDS’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘SMNLIDS’ as a new and distinct Lagerstroemia cultivar:

-   -   1. Dark green foliage with a silver sheen, bronze new growth.     -   2. Well-branched plants.     -   3. Intense pink flower color.     -   4. Dwarf plant.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNLIDS’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics; however, plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNLIDS’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety has dark green leaves with a silver sheen,         while the seed parent has green leaves.     -   2. The new variety has darker pink flowers, while the seed         parent has lighter pink flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNLIDS’ are comparable to the commercial variety Lagerstroemia ‘G2X133271’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,474. The two Lagerstroemia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘SMNLIDS’ differs in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety is a dwarf; this comparator is a larger         plant.     -   2. Foliage of the new variety has hues of silver, burgundy and         green; comparator has green foliage.     -   3. New variety has hot pink flowers; comparator has darker         red-pink flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘SMNLIDS’ in a 3 gallon pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 1.5 to 2 years old from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowering plant outdoors at approximately 3 years old in Grand Haven, Mich.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up of the foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2015 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘SMNLIDS’ plants grown in a poly house during August 2017, in Grand Haven, Mich. The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from approximately 5° C. to 10° C. during the night. General light conditions are normal sunlight and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lagerstroemia indica ‘SMNLIDS’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Softwood cuttings. -   Time to initiate roots: 21 days at 18-27° C. -   Time to produce a rooted cutting: 1-2 months at 18-27° C. -   Root description: Thin, dense, fibrous, moderate branching. White in     color, not accurately measured with R.H.S. Chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 2-3 years old from a rooted cutting. -   Container size: 3 gallon container. -   Overall plant shape: Compact, rounded. -   Growth habit: Freely branching outward. Deciduous flowering shrub. -   Plant spread: 64 cm. -   Plant height: 52 cm. -   Plant vigor: Good. -   Branching habit: Basal. -   Length of primary lateral branches: 33 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 4 mm. -   Quantity of lateral branches: 26. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—New growth: RHS Greyed-Green 193C, flushed Greyed-Red             179A. Newest branches Greyed-Red 179A. Old growth: RHS             Greyed-Brown 199C.         -   Shape.—New growth: Square. Old growth: Round.         -   Strength.—Good.         -   Aspect angle.—15-80°.         -   Texture.—New growth slightly pubescent, old growth woody. -   Internode length: 1.5 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Sub-opposite.         -   Average length.—4.5 cm.         -   Average width.—2 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, waxy.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, slightly ribbed.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Mix of RHS Greyed-Purple             187A and Green 143A. Young foliage under side: RHS Green             146C. Mature foliage upper side: RHS Yellow-Green 147A.             Sheen Greyed-Purple N187D. Mature foliage under side: RHS             Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS             Greyed-Red 179B. Venation color under side: RHS Greyed-Red             181C.         -   Petiole.—Length: 1 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Texture, upper             side: Smooth. Texture, under side: Smooth. Color, upper             side: RHS Greyed-Purple N186A. Color, under side: RHS             Greyed-Purple N186A.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Late Summer to October. -   Inflorescence form: Panicle at terminal ends. -   Flowers per inflorescence: Average 25. -   Flowers per lateral stem: Average 100. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Width.—6 cm.         -   Height.—8 cm. -   Individual flowers:     -   -   Type.—Rotate.         -   Habit.—Whorled outward.         -   Diameter.—3 cm.         -   Length.—1.5 cm         -   Persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Lightly earthy. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Number.—6.         -   Shape.—Undulate orbicular shape.         -   Margin.—Irregular ruffled lobes, undulate.         -   Tip shape.—Rounded.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Length.—1 cm.         -   Width.—8 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Soft, smooth, delicate. Lower: Soft, smooth,             delicate.         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple NN74B.             Under surface: RHS Red-Purple NN74B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: RHS Red-Purple NN74B. Under surface: RHS Red-Purple             NN74B. Fading: Upper surface: RHS Red-Purple 61C. Under             surface: RHS Red-Purple 61C. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Obovate.         -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—5 mm.         -   Color.—Center: RHS Greyed-Purple N186C. Outside: RHS             Greyed-Purple 187B to 187C. -   Sepals:     -   -   Appearance.—Smooth, glossy.         -   Arrangement.—Unguiculate.         -   Shape.—Narrowly triangular.         -   Tip shape.—Acute.         -   Base shape.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Quantity per flower.—6.         -   Length.—4 mm.         -   Width.—3 mm.         -   Texture.—Upper: Smooth, coriaceous, rugose. Lower: Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper: Mix of RHS Red-Purple 59A with Red-Purple 58B             to 58C. Lower: RHS Green-White 157A. -   Calyx:     -   -   Shape.—Unguiculate.         -   Length.—5 mm.         -   Diameter.—6 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—3 cm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Red 182A.         -   Strength.—Good. -   Pedicel: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number.—About 29.         -   Filament length.—1 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS Red-Purple 70D, with White 155B at base. -   Anthers:     -   -   Shape.—Linear.         -   Length.—1 mm.         -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Orange 163A edged with Greyed-Orange 165A.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Some. Color: RHS Greyed-Orange 163A. -   Pistil:     -   -   Number.—1.         -   Length.—2 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 1.8 cm. Color: RHS Greyed-Purple 184D. -   Stigma:     -   -   Shape.—Globe.         -   Color.—RHS Black 202A.         -   Ovary color.—RHS Yellow 11B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Fruits and seeds: Not observed to date. -   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Lagerstroemia observed. -   Temperature range: Observed to tolerate a temperature range from     −28° C. to 35° C. Root hardy to −28C, top of the plant does die back     to the ground. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lagerstroemia plant named ‘SMNLIDS’ as herein illustrated and described. 